Routine maintenance should be performed on every commercial elevator. The last thing a commercial property owner needs is employees or guests having issues calling the elevator or getting stuck inside. To ensure the safety of everyone, you should locate an elevator maintenance company in your area that you trust to come out once in a while to ensure the mechanisms are still working as they should. Picking the Right Company You will most likely have several options at your disposal to choose from. You do not want to assume that all companies are alike. Some elevator maintenance companies specialize in commercial properties, which is what you want. You need to avoid companies that only work on residential buildings. Additionally, you want to consider the overall size of your building and whether a company will be able to handle it. For a small business that only has one or two elevators that require maintenance, you may be able to get by with a smaller organization. However, for facilities such as hospitals and universities, you will need a company that is well-versed in maintaining many elevators simultaneously. Choosing the Best Contract Once you find an elevator maintenance company you trust, you need to decide what kind of contract to put in place. You can choose a full maintenance contract, which is essentially an insurance policy. You pay a set amount every year, and the maintenance company assumes full responsibility of the elevator’s well-being. There is also a parts, oil and grease contract. This is a more limited contract that does not cover maintenance on items, such as cables and controllers. In the event other repairs are required, then the elevator company will notify the building owner, who will have to pay extra for those services. Since every business is different, each one will require a different contract and range of services. For commercial property owners in Roanoke, Myrtle Beach or Charleston, Southern Elevator is always a good choice. Learn more by contacting us at...

Is there an elevator in your commercial building? If so, you’ll want to prepare it before winter strikes. This is because the cold can affect your machine’s performance, and sometimes even put its passengers at risk. Follow these tips to keep your elevator functioning properly during the upcoming winter months. Climate Control For an elevator to perform its best, the hydraulic oil needs to be somewhere from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter, the cold can sometimes drop the temperature of the oil, causing problems with your elevator. However, this can be avoided by keeping your machine room climate-controlled or by installing a tank heater that controls the hydraulic oil’s temperature. If for some reason you choose not to climate control your elevator, you can park it on a floor that does have heat in order to keep the temperature comfortable inside. Ask a professional if they can install a feature that allows you to program your machine to return to a specific floor when it’s not in use. Battery Backup During the winter, the risk of a power outage is increased because of snow and ice storms. As a result, you’ll want to install a battery backup system so that your elevator will still be able to function if you were to lose power. If you already have a backup, make sure it is working properly and is fully charged. Lubrication Sometimes, cold temperatures can cause the guide rails in the elevator shaft to become dry, which creates friction every time the machine moves. If this happens, you’ll likely hear an unusual noise that is coming from the shaft. Call a professional to come lubricate the steel rails for you. By following these tips, you’ll help your commercial elevator function its best this upcoming winter. To schedule an appointment with a professional technician, call Southern Elevator at...

When you own or manage a multi-story building, it is important to have working elevators. Not only is a working elevator required in most multi-story buildings, but building guests, tenants, and employees will be happiest when they do not have to take the stairs. Maintaining your elevators might not be at the top of your to-do list, but here are 3 reasons why regular maintenance of elevators is so important. Adhere to Regulations and Maintain Your Operating License When you fail to regularly maintain your elevator, it can cause a headache when it fails inspection and puts your operating license in jeopardy. Elevator failures are common, with nearly one-third of elevators in North Carolina fail inspection. Regular maintenance can prevent such failures and ensure that your elevators adhere to all relevant regulations. Safety Elevators are designed to safely move people from one floor of a building to another. When they fail, it puts passengers in danger. About 30 people die each year in elevator and escalator-related events, and thousands more are injured. Failure of any element of your building’s elevator can result in serious injury. Cost Savings Failing to regularly maintain your building’s elevator can lead to expensive repairs when systems fail or major damage occurs. Technicians who maintain elevators can help save you money in the following ways: Identify worn-out components Fix small problems before they become big disasters Flag issues that could result in a failed inspection When you regularly maintain your building’s elevators, you can rest easy knowing that passengers are safe, that you will pass inspection, and that you are unlikely to see the large expense that comes with a major elevator failure. Your elevator will be more reliable and last longer, carrying employees, tenants, and guests from one floor to another with ease. If you are looking for a trustworthy elevator repair company to provide regular maintenance in your building, contact Southern Elevator....

Just about everyone has had the experience of walking into an elevator and immediately feeling unsafe simply due to the dark, outdated, or dingy interior of the elevator cab. Even if the elevator runs perfectly, an elevator cab in need of renovations brings a sense of unease and can make an entire property less desirable. The following tips for renovating your building’s elevator cabs will give your tenants and guests peace of mind. Consider What the Elevator Says About Your Building Your elevator cabs can say a lot about your building, so consider this when making renovations. While stone or wood veneers can be timeless, they may not fit in well inside an otherwise modern building. If you or your tenants care about the environment, LEED-compliant materials can bring that commitment to your elevator, as well. Remember that colors, materials, and design choices in an elevator influence riders’ perception of the building overall. Align Elevator Cab Updates with Building-Wide Renovations While it might be tempting to stagger renovations, renovating elevator cabs at the same time as you complete other building renovations is a smart move. Not only will this make it easier to schedule future renovations, but it ensures a cohesive and upgraded look throughout the building. It is important to remember, though, that upgrading elevator cabs does not improve elevator service, so you may want to upgrade elevator controls and other components at the same time for an improved experience. Hire a Qualified Elevator Contractor Even if you have an interior designer working on the rest of your building, it is important to hire a qualified elevator contractor who is licensed to supervise and perform renovations on your elevator cabs. Not only do many local authorities require all work on elevators to be performed or supervised by licensed elevator professionals, but using licensed contractors ensures your elevator remains safe and operates without malfunction. Contractors providing elevator cab renovations must have up to date knowledge of code requirements for the following: Fire rating on materials Overall design Weight Installation Fabrication When you are ready to upgrade your building’s elevator cabs, contact Southern...

Elevators are a building feature that is taken for granted because they must be functional 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of the best ways to keep your elevators on the up and up, um, down, is by proactive and preventative maintenance. It may seem like a hassle to put time, money, and energy into regular upkeep and inspection, but the payoff can be great for your business. Here are a few smart reasons that proactive elevator maintenance is essential. Head It off at the Pass Do you know what is less expensive than repairing an elevator? Maintenance! Think of the many moving parts that work together for your vertical transportation system. Any of them, the car, the hoistway, or the machine room, can break down and create a headache for your building. With proper inspection and upkeep, you can minimize the potential of major repairs that can hit your budget and limit the inconvenience to the people in your building. Make It a Priority Elevators present a conundrum for building owners and managers; how do you find time in a day to repair or maintain equipment that is in use around the clock? With proactive preventative upkeep, you can build the down time into your schedule, perhaps during slow times in the building when elevators are not in high demand. A short break for inspection that you can plan is a much better prospect than frequent and frustrating shutdowns. Quality of Life Can you imagine the expense and time it would take to replace or modernize your elevator system? You can extend the lifespan of your equipment with preventive maintenance. Getting more use out of your existing elevators can allow you to save capital for modernization when you decide the time is right, not when you have no choice but to replace a worn-out system. A service contract can take care of your elevator maintenance needs without pulling your staff away from their regular responsibilities. Contact Southern Elevator to learn more about proactive preventative maintenance and other services for your vertical transportation...

Business men and women expect a smooth and swift elevator ride every time they climb aboard the elevator at work. To ensure they continue to enjoy the ride, it is good to know when your elevator is reaching its final run. Here are three signs it may be time to replace your elevator.